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I think about Halloween as a kid in Colorado, and how I would plan my costume over the summer. My mom would make the most fabulous costumes… it was the staple of autumn. Running through the cornmazes, wandering streets with layers underneath our costumes, warming up Tootsie Rolls in my hands because the Colorado snow had frozen them in my pillowcase and I wanted oh so badly to gobble one up, drinking hot cider as the snow sometimes fell lightly against the moonlit sky… these memories are all so vibrant in my head.

Our house would be decked out head to toe with pumpkin lights on strings and fake spider webs and stashes of candy on the top shelf of the pantry. Paper plates always in orange and black and matching pumpkin napkins. It almost seems like it was another life.

Here in France, Halloween is not exactly the same Hallmark traditional holiday, but it is so refreshing every year to get a little care package from my maman to bring back all of the autumn and spooky memories.

She has the best taste in little trinkets and gifts. Nothing like a pinch of American Halloween in my little Parisian apartment. Let’s just say Louis loves candy corn now. There’s no such thing as a Halloween without candy corn, right? I hope your Halloween is filled with spooks and treats.

This is a story of a surprise package in the mail… with something delicious inside.

So when I was in Amsterdam visiting a close friend, I had the opportunity to meet her honey and his crew that were all Catalan. On this trip I discovered Spanish food. I have never been to Spain (YET), but this was certainly the closest I’ve felt!

I fell in love with the jamón. It is just so delicious and finely cut. So distinct. Just damn tasteful.

A few weeks after I had received a small white package in the mail with no return address, and it was the cutest surprise of all time….. JAMON IN THE MAIL FROM BARCELONA. IT WASN’T A DREAM.